Art students collapsible work bench



Jan. 14, 1964 J, DE SENA 3,117,816

ART STUDENT'S COLLAPSIBLE WORK BENCH Filed Aug. 14, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet1 54 `lmm`7 35 32a 31 l`fn '8 l ,f1/ed 2s 21 2o 25 325s 1 3s im J 22 'mA m1 mul 1' .111111 dllil E 17 M5 '2 2| INVENTOR. 1s T? E, JOSEPH DESENA Wwf Jan. 14, 1964 ART STUDENT'S COLLAPSIBLE WORK BENCH Filed Aug.14, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JOSEPH DE SENA J. DE SENA 3,117,816l nur United States Patent O 3,117,816 ART STUDENTS COLLAPSlBLE WRKBENCH oseph De Sena, 36-27' lZth St., Long island City, Filed Aug. 14,llll. Ser. No. 3512,296

19 ClInns. (El. 297-156) This invention concerns a collapsible bench andeasel for use by artists and art students.

According to the invention there is provided a bench and easel made of aplurality of hinged panels which can be quickly set up for use andfolded for convenient transportation and storage. The panels may beniade of metal, plastic wood, tempered hardboard or other suitable rigidmaterial. The easel is arranged on the bench in such a manner that itcan be extended or retracted and its angular position on the bench canbe changed. The bench has live hinged panels providing a seat andelevated end or back rest. The easel includes two large panels and aplurality of narrow connecting panels for adjusting the easel in variouspositions. if desired, the easel can be removed and the bench can beused alone.

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a collapsiblebench and easel including hinged panels which can be folded to occupy asmall space.

lt is another object to provide a collapsible bench and easel asdescribed, wherein the easel can be adjusted to various lengths andangular positions on the bench.

A further object is to provide a bench having a back or end rest forrnedfrom live hinged panels with braces to hold the panels in fixedpositions with respect to each other.

`For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

ln the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

PIG. l is a perspective view of a bench and easel in set-up position.

PEG. 2 is a side View on an enlarged scale of the bench and easel inpartially collapsed or folded position.

FlG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of parts of a brace assernbly.

FlG. 4 is a side elevational view of the bench and easel in a set-upposition, showing the easel in a different position from that of ETG. l.

FlG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view similar to a portion ofFlG. 4, showing the easel in still another position.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown an artists bench and easelassembly lil including two rectangular end panels l2, le which serve asvertical supports or legs for the assembly. The upper end l2. of panell2 is secured by a hinge or hinges lo to a rectangular panel l. Thehinges le are spaced slightly from the forward end E of panel l so thatthe upper end of panel r2 will underiay and support panel i3 at end Ewhen the assembly is set up. Hinges i6 may be of conventional type withleaves l5 having intertting eyes joined by a pin l?. The hinges arelocated at the underside of panel 18 and the inner or rear side of panell2.

lf desired, a single, piano-type hinge may be employed instead of twohinges 16. Two hinges 2i? are provided at opposite sides of the assemblylil. Opposite ends of the hinges 20 are secured to lateral edges ofpanels 12 and l. Each hinge has a lower arm 2l provided with a finger 22to overlay upper arm 23 of the hinge so that the hinges when extendedserve as reinforcing corner braces for mutually perpendicular panels l2,1S at the front end of the assembly lil; see FlG. l.

Fanel i8 serves as the front part of a horizontal seat llllh Patentesaan. raises ICC of the bench portion of the assembly l0. Anotherrectangular panel 24 serves as a rear part of the horizontal seat. Panel24 is connected to panel l by leaf hinges 25 located at upper sides ofthe panels on the rear end of panel l and front end of panel 24, whichends are abutted to each other when the seat is set up.

ln order to reinforce the joints provided by hinges 25, two braceassemblies 3? are provided at opposite sides of the seat. Each braceassembly includes a first brace plate 32 as shown best in FIG. 3. Thisplate has a channel-shaped central portion 33 which is provided withholes 34 to receive screws 3l for attaching the plate to one lateraledge of paneL l near its rear end. The plate has two coplanar spacedflanges 36 which extend upwardly and downwardly respectively from theouter edges of central portion 33. Another or second brace plate 32asimilar to plate 32. with similar channel-shaped central portion 33' andspaced flanges 3o is secured to one lateral edge of panel 24 near itsfront end. A slidable channel bar or plate 35 with two inwardly turnedflanges 3S is movably engaged on plates 32, 32a. Flanges 38 engagebehind or inside of franges 36 above and below the channel-shapedcentral portions. The bar 35 bridges the joint at the abutted ends ofpanels f8, 24 and reinforces the joint. Thus a person can sit astridethe seat facing the rear end thereof and the panels l and 24 will remainin coplanar horizontal position.

The upper end of Vertical support rear panel i4 is connected by leafhinges lil to the rear end of horizontal seat panel 24. The hinges arelocated underneath panel 24 at the front side of panel 14; see FlGS. 2,4 and 5. This arrangement permits panel leito fold against the undersideof horizontal panel 24.. Two hinges l2 serve as rear corner braces forthe seat. Opposite ends of arms -S, 44 of the hinges d2 are pivotallyattached to lateral edges of panels i4 and 24. Lower arms i3 havefingers l5 which engage on upper edges of arms i4 to prevent downwardcollapsing of the hinges as viewed in FlG. l.

Vertical panel lo is provided as a back or end rest. This rectangularpanel is joined to vertical support panel 14 by leaf hinges 4S at therear sides of the panels. The upper end of panel ld and lower end ofpanel 46 are abutted when the bench is set up as shown in FlG. l. lnorder to hold the panels llland 45 in a vertical coplanar arrangementand to supplement and reinforce the joint at hinges Alg, there areprovided two brace assemblies Sil which are similar to assembly 3? shownin Fl. 3. Each of brace assemblies 3% includes a brace plate 32 similarto plate 32. Trlate 32. is attached to one lateral edge of panel 14 nearits upper end. Another plate 32 like plate 32 is attached to a lateraledge of panel 46 near its lower end. Slidable channel-shaped brace bar35 engages on the flanges 36 of the plates 32', 32 and bridges the jointof the abutted edges of the panels l, 46. This holds the panel 46 erectand coplanar with lower support panel ll.

The assembly l@ is provided with an easel 5@ which can be collapsed asshown in FlG. 2 or set up and used in any one of a number of differentpositions shown in FIGS. l, 4 and 5, respectively. The easel includes afirst narrow panel 52 which is secured by leaf hinge 54 to the rear endof panel Z4 at its upper side. Hinge 54 has a narrow leaf 55 secured topanel 24 and a wide leaf 56 secured to one end of panel 52. Panel 52 issecured by a leaf hinge 58 to a second narrow panel dll. lanel of? issecured by a leaf hinge o?. to a third narrow panel 6e. Panel d4 issecured by a leaf hinge 65 to one end of a long rectangular panel 66. Anarrow panel 63 is secured by leaf hinge 7il to the other end of panel66. A long rectangular panel 72 is secured by leaf spring 74 to narrowpanel 68.

PIG. l shows one arrangement of the easel Sil, in which panels 52 anddll are horizontal and supported on the top of panel 24. Panel 65e iscoplanar with panel 66 and disposed at an angle or obliquely to thehorizontal panel 24 to serve as an inclined support for an artistspainting or drawing work. Panel 63 overlays the top of the panel 46 andpanel 72 hangs down at the back of panel 45.

In FlG. 4, only the first narrow panel 52 rests horizontally on panel24. Both narrow panels 69 and 64 are coplanar with long panel 66 whichextends beyond the upper end of panel 46. Both panels 68 and '72 hangdown at the bank of panel 45. Panels 66 and 64 provide a longer supportfor an artists work. The two panels of), 64 provide a more upright orless inclined surface than the panel 64 alone arranged as shown in FlG.l.

In FlG. 5, all three narrow panels 52, o and 64 are supported onhorizontal panel 24. Panel d6 is coplanar with panels 6d and 72 andprovide a very long, inclined surface for a large painting upon which anartist sitting astride of the bench, may be working. The angle ofaligned panels e6, 68 and '72 is more inclined or less upright than thearrangement of easel panels in FGS. 1 and 4. lt will be noted that thefacing edges of panels 66, 68 and 72 are in abutment and that panel 72is supported on the upper end of panel de.

FlG. 2 shows the simple manner in which the entire assembly can becollapsed to a very compact size. Panels 12 and 18 fold together. Panels18 and 24 fold together. Panel le folds over panel 24... Panel 46 foldsover panel 14.

The wide leaf 56 of hinge 54 supports narrow panel 52 in a vertical orend position, while panels 66, 64 and 66 will extend over panel 46.Panels 68 and 72 will fold under panel 66 and will be disposed overpanel 46.

To effect the collapsing of the assembly, brace bars 35 will be movedalong brace plates 32a to clear plates 32 and brace bars 35 will bemoved along brace plates 32" to clear plates 32. Hinges will be closedtoward the joined ends of panels l2, 18 and panels la, 24.

It is apparent that the easel can be removed from the bench by detachinghinge 54 from panel 24, so that the bench can be used alone. Also theeasel can be used alone, separate from the bench.

The bench and easel assembly are easily put together with simple tools.lt can be very economically manufactured by relatively unskilled labor.It fulfills a long felt need in that an artist can set up a bench andeasel quickly in any place he wishes to work. The bench and easel col-Ybe made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A collapsible bench and easel assembly, comprising first and secondpanels hinged together at adjacent ends to define a horizontal seat, athird panel hinged at one end to the other end of the first panel todefine a vertical support for the seat, a fourth panel hinged at one endthereof to the other end of the second panel to define another verticalsupport for the seat parallel to the third panel, brace means forreinforcing joints of the first panel to the second panel, the thirdpanel to the rst panel, and the fourth panel to the second panel; afifth panel hinged at one end to the one end of the fourth panel todefine a vertical end rest at the other end of the second panel, andother brace means at lateral edges of the fourth and fifth panelsbridging abutting joined ends of the fourth and fifth panels to hold thesame in coplanar alignment.

2. A Vcollapsible bench and easel assembly, comprising Y first andsecond panels hin 'ed together at adjacent ends to defineV a horizontalseat, a third panel hinged at one end to the other end of the firstpanel to define a vertical support for the seat, a fourth panel hingedat one end thereof to the other end of the second panel to defineanother vertical support for the seat parallel to the third panel, bracemeans for reinforcing joints of the first panel to the second panel, thethird panel to the first panel, and the fourth panel to the secondpanel; a fifth panel hinged at one end to the one end of the fourthpanel to define a Vertical end rest at the other end of the secondpanel, and other brace means at lateral edges of the fourth and fifthpanels bridging abutting joined ends of the fourth and fifth panels tohold the same in coplanar alignment, the brace means at the joint of thefirst and second panels and at the joint of the fourth and fifth panelsincluding pairs of stationary brace plates Secured to lateral edges ofthe first, second, fourth and fifth panels, said brace plates havingoutwardly extended flanges, and a plurality of channel bars eachslidably engaged on flanges of a pair of said brace plates when thebench is set up.

3. A collapsible bench and easel assembly, comprising first and secondpanels hinged together at adjacent ends to define a horizontal seat, athird panel hinged at one end to the other end of the first panel todefine a vertical support for the seat, a fourth panel hinged at one endthereof to the other end of the second panel to define another verticalsupport for the seat parallel to the third panel, brace means forreinforcing joints of the first panel to the second panel, the thirdpanel to the first panel, and the fourth panel to the second panel;fifth panel hinged at one end to the one end of the fourth panel todefine a vertical end rest at the other end of the second panel, andother brace means at lateral edges of the fourth and fifth panelsbridging abutting joined ends of the fourth and fifth panels to hold thesame in coplanar alignment, the brace means at the joint of the firstand third panels and the joint of the second and fourth panels includingpairs of hinges having pivotable arms extending in alignment diagonallybetween the horizontal first panel and Vertical third panel, and betweenthe horizontal second panel and vertical third panel, the brace means atthe joint of the first and second panels and at the joint of the fourthand fifth panels including pairs of stationary brace plates secured tolateral edges of the first, second, fourth and fifthY panels, said braceplates having outwardly extended flanges, and a plurality of channelbars each slidably engaged on flanges of a pair of said brace plateswhen the bench is set up.

4. A collapsible bench and easel assembly, comprising a bench includingfive panels hinged to ether at ends thereof to define a horizontal seat,two vertical endV surports and a vertical end rest extending upwardlyfrom the seat; and an easel comprising a first narrow panel barge to oneof the five panels at one end of said seat, a second narrow panel hingedto the first narrow panel, a third narrow panel hinged to the secondnarrow panel, and a lonty panel hinged to the third narrow panel,whereby said long panel and the narrow panels can be arranged on saidseat and against said end rest to provide an inclined support ofvariable length rfor an artists work.V

5. A collapsible lbench and easel assembly, comprising a bench includingve panels hinged together at ends thereof to define a horizontal seat,two vertical end supports and a vertical end rest extending upwardlyfrom the seat; and an ease-l comprising a first narrow panel hinged toone of the lfive panels at one end of said seat, a Vsecond narrow panelhinged to the first narrow panel, a third narrow panel hinged to thesecond narrow panel, a first long panel hinged to the third narrowpanel, a fourth narrow panel hinged to thelong panel, and a second longpanel hinged to the fourth narrow panel, whereby the long panels and thenarrow panels can be arranged on said seat and against said end rest toprovide an inclined support of variable length for an artists work, andwhereby the panels of the bench and easel can be 5. folded compactlywith the several panels supenimposed upon each other.

6. A collapsible bench and easel assembly, comprising first and secondpanels hinged together at adjacent ends to define a horizontal seat, athird panel hinged at one end to the other end of the first panel todefine a vertical support for the seat, a fourth panel hinged at one endthereof to the other end of the second panel to define another verticalsupport for the seat parallel to the third panel, brace means forreinfoncing joints of the first panel to the second panel, the thirdpanel to the first panel, and the fourth panel to the second panel; afifth panel hinged yat one end to the one end of the fourth panel todefine a vertical end rest at t e other end :of the second panel, andother brace means at lateral edges of the fourth land fifth panelsbridging abutting joined ends of the fourth and fifth panels to hold thesame in coplanar alignment, and an easel comprising a first narrow panelhinged to the `second panel at the other end thereof, `a second narrowpanel hinged to the firs-t narrow panel, a third nar-now panel hinged tothe second narrow panel, and a long panel hinged to the third narrowpanel, whereby said long panel and said narrow panels can be arranged onsaid seat and against said end rest to provide an inclined support ofvariable length for an -artists work, and whereby the panels of thebench and easel can be folded compactly with the several panelssuperimposed upon eachother.

7. A collapsible bench and easel assembly, comprising first and secondpanels hin-ged together at adjacent ends to define a horizontal seat, athird panel hinged at one end to the other end of the first panel todefine a vertical support for the seat, a fourth panel hinged at one endthereof to the other end of the second panel to define another verticalsupport for the seat parallel to the third panel, brace means forreinforcing joints of the first panel to the second panel, the thirdpanel to the first panel, and lthe fourth panel to the second panel; afifth panel hin-ged at one end to the one end of the fourth panel todefine ia vertical end rest at the other end of the second panel, andother brace means at lateral edges of the fourth and fifth panelsbridging abutting joined ends of the fourth and fifth panels to hold thesame in coplanar alignment, the brace means at the joint of the firstand second panels and at the joint of the fourth and fifth panelsincluding pairs Iof stationary brace plates secured to lateral edges ofthe first, second, fourth and fifth panels, said brace plates havingoutwardly extended flanges, and a plurality of channel bars eachslidably engaged on flanges of a pair of said brace plates when thebench is set up, and an easel comprising a first narrow panel hinged tothe second panel at the other end thereof, -a second narrow panel hingedto the first narrow panel, `a third narrow panel hinged to the secondnarrow panel, and `a long panel hinged to the third narrow panel,whereby said long panel and said narrow panels can be arranged on saidseat and against said end rest to provide an inclined support ofvariable length for an artists work.

8. A collapsible bench and easel assembly, comprising first and secondpanels hinged together Iat adjacent ends to define a horizontal seat, athird panel hinged at one end to the other end of the first panel todefine a vertical support for the seat, a fourth panel hinged at one endthereof to the `other end of the second panel to define another venticalsupport for the seat parallel to the third panel, brace means forreinforcing joints of the first panel to the second panel, the thirdpanel to the first panel, and the fourth panel to the second panel; afifth panel hinged at one end to the one end o-f lthe fourth panel todefine a vertical end rest at thel other end of the second panel, andother brace means `at lateral edges of the fourth and fifth panelsbridging abutting joined ends of the fourth and fifth panels to hold thesame in coplanar ali-'gnment, the brace means at the joint of the firstand third panels and the joint of the second and fourth panels includingpairs of hinges having pivotable `arms extending in alignment diagonallybetween the horizontal first panel and vertical Ithird panel, andbetween the horizontal second panel and vertical third panel, the bracemeans at the joint lof the first and second panels and at the joint ofthe fourth and fifth panels including pairs of stationary brace platessecured to lateral edges of the first, second, fourth and fth panels,said brace plates having outwardly extended flanges, and a plurality ofchannel bars each slidably engaged on flanges of a pair of said braceplates when the bench is 4set up, and an easel comprising a finst narrowpanel hinged to the second panel at the other end thereof, a secondnarrow panel hinged to the first narrow panel, a third narrow panelhinged to the second narrow panel, `and a long panel hinged to the thirdnarrow panel, whereby said long panel and said narrow panels can bearranged o-n said seat and against said end rest to provide an inclinedsupport of variable length for an artists work, and whereby the panelsof the bench and easel can be folded compact-ly with the several panelssuperimposed upon each other.

9. A collapsible bench and easel assembly, comprising first and secondpanels hinged together .at adjacent ends to idefine a horizontal seat, athird panel hinged at one end to the other end of the first panel todefine a vertical support for the seat, a fourth panel hinged at one endthereof to the other end fof the second panel to define another verticalsupport lfor the seat parallel :to the third panel, brace means forreinforcing joints of the first panel to the second panel, the thirdpanel to the first panel, and the fourth panel to the second panel; afifth panel hinged at `one end to the one end of the fourth panel todefine a verticd end rest at the other end of the second panel, andother brace means at rlateral edges of the fourth and fifth pane-lsbridging abutting joined ends of the fourth and fifth panels to hold thesame in coplanar alignment, and 'an easel comprising a first narrowpanel hinged to the `second panel at the other end thereof, a secondnar-now panel hinged to the first narrow panel, a third lnarrow panelhinged to the second narrow panel, a first long panel hinged to thethird narrow panel, a .fourth narrow panel hinged .to the first lon-gpanel, and a second long panel hinged to the fourth narrow panel,whereby the long panels and the narrow panels can be arranged on saidseat and against said end rest to provide Ian inclined support ofvariable length for an artists work, and whereby the panels of :thebench and easel can be folded compactly with the several panelssuperimposed upon each other.

l0. A collapsible bench and easel assembly, compirsing first and secondpanels hinged together at adjacent ends to define -a horizontal seat, athird panel hinged at one end to the other end of the first panel todefine a vertical support for the seat, a fourth panel hing-ed at oneend thereof to the other end :of the second panel to define anothervertical support for the seat parallel to the third panel, brace meansfor rein-forcing joints of the first panel to the second panel, thethird panel to the first panel, and the fourth panel to the secondpanel; a fifth panel hinged at one end to the one end of the fourthpanel to define -a vertical end rest at the other end of the secondpanel, and other brace means at lateral edges of the fourth and fifthpanels bridging abutting joined ends of the fourth and fifth panels tohold the same in coplanar alignment, the brace means at the joint of thefirst and third panels and the joint of the second and fourth panelsincluding pairs of hinges having pivotable arms extending in alignmentdiagonally between the horizontal first panel and vertical third panel,and between the horizontal second panel and vertical third panel, thebrace means at the joint of the first and second pane-ls and at thejoint of the fourth and fth panels including pairs of stationary braceplates secured to lateral edges of .the first, second, fourth and fifthpanels, said brace plates having outwardly extended flnages, and aplurality of channels bars each slidably engaged on llarifes `of a pairof said brace pilates when the bench is se up, and an easel comprising afirs narrow panel hingel to the sec- Gnd panel at the other end thereof,a second narrow panel hinged to the lirsL narrow panel, a third naiiowpanel hinged to y*the second narrow panel, a first long panel hinged tothe third narrow panel, a fourth nairow panel hinged to the fst longpanel, and a second long panel hinged to the lfourth narrow pane-l,whereby the 10 long panels and vthe `Berrow panels can be arranged `onsaid sea and against said end rest 1o provide an inclined support ofVariable length for an ,artists work, and Wherehy the panels of thebench and easel can be folded con paetly with the several panelssuperimposed upon each other.

References Cied in he le of this patent UNTED STATES PATENTS 88,256Bacon Mar. 23, 1869 978,390 ivorrison Dec. 13, 1910 2,502,502 BennettApr. 4, 1950 2,655,417 Zalkind Oct. 13, 1953 2,913,107 Cote Dec. 22,1959 FGREIGN PATENTS 595,463 France vMay 7, 1920

1. A COLLAPSIBLE BENCH AND EASEL ASSEMBLY, COMPRISING FIRST AND SECONDPANELS HINGED TOGETHER AT ADJACENT ENDS TO DEFINE A HORIZONTAL SEAT, ATHIRD PANEL HINGED AT ONE END TO THE OTHER END OF THE FIRST PANEL TODEFINE A VERTICAL SUPPORT FOR THE SEAT, A FOURTH PANEL HINGED AT ONE ENDTHEREOF TO THE OTHER END OF THE SECOND PANEL TO DEFINE ANOTHER VERTICALSUPPORT FOR THE SEAT PARALLEL TO THE THIRD PANEL, BRACE MEANS FORREINFORCING JOINTS OF THE FIRST PANEL TO THE SECOND PANEL, THE THIRDPANEL TO THE FIRST PANEL, AND THE FOURTH PANEL TO THE SECOND PANEL; AFIFTH PANEL HINGED AT ONE END TO THE ONE END OF THE FOURTH PANEL TODEFINE A VERTICAL END REST AT THE OTHER END OF THE SECOND PANEL, ANDOTHER BRACE MEANS AT LATERAL EDGES OF THE FOURTH AND FIFTH PANELSBRIDGING ABUTTING JOINED ENDS OF THE FOURTH AND FIFTH PANELS TO HOLD THESAME IN COPLANAR ALIGNMENT.